Christmas Festivities Sunday 14th December Racing and Lunch

Sunday Racing - Report Marcus Chavasse

The turnout was good in the sunshine with a South-Westerley wind that gently increased through the morning with a few challenging gusts. Race Officer Ros Warwick-Haller set a simple loop course. Fourteen boats came to the Blue start including five Merlins, five ILCAs two Toppers and two Eighteens. Tim Medcalf and Tim Ginn won the Merlins ahead of Matt Peregrine-Jones and Lyra Wade who were in turn followed by Tim Barr and Patty. In the ILCAs, John Kemp won followed by Ilker Sener and then Alexey Anatskiy. Arthur P-J won the Toppers. Charles Fox and Robert Blakebrough won the N18s.

The white race was the Christmas Pudding Race. The turnout swelled to 22 boats with many sporting tinsel and crew wearing Santa hats. The Toppers were given a slightly shortened loop. On the main course there was a fair amount of contact at marks and elsewhere. Penalty turns were done. In the end in the Merlins, Richard Harris and Chris Martin came in ahead of Tim Medcalf and Tim Ginn. Matt P-J and Lyra Wade took third. In the ILCAs the order changed to Ilker Sener first, John Kemp second and Alexey Anatskiy third. In the Toppers, Arthur P-J took first followed by Toby S-H and then Flora S-H. Alison Cooper and Hayley O'Connell won the N18s. Peter Bide and Marie Wilcock sailed an Enterprise with tinsel-compromised airflow round the jib.

Many thanks to Race Officer Ros Warwick-Haller and race/ safety boat team Sally Warwick-Haller, Clive Mence and Adrian Warwick-Haller.

Photo Marcus Chavasse

Photo Alastair Banks

Photo Carolyne Vines

At the Christmas Party that followed, all were greeted with mulled wine. Christmas puddings were awarded to those who had sailed. An excellent traditional Christmas lunch of turkey followed by Christmas pudding and mince pies was served. There was quizzing, bingo, an appearance from Santa and carol signing accompanied by Perry Wade on the trumpet.

A BIG thank you to Nim Harris and Helen Williams who organised the event, to Jean-Michel our chef and to the many helpers including Josie with the wonderful kitchen and bar team, Santa and Elves as well as the House Committee.

Photo Marcus Chavasse

Photo Nim Harris

Photo Niki Vondrakova

Marcus Chavasse presented the Commodore's Prize. Peter Impey was mentioned for his efforts on updating Sailing Instructions, rationalising Notices of Race and also for volunteering to go into the water to be rescued during patrol boat training. Simon Thompson was mentioned for running the Patrol Boat Training. Alison Cooper was credited for her support for social sailing. The main Commodore's Prize went to Andrew Craig as the Lead who is supported by so many others and who have built Social Sailing at the Club to be a thriving community of enthusiastic sailors.

Andrew acknowledged "there have been many helpers to get the social sailing going starting with the feed in from the school that Tim Medcalf very actively drove. Then having enough experienced helms to take people out before they had completed their level 2. Peter Bide, Tim Barr, Rob Hatley, Peter Impey, Henry Medcalf, Charlie Morgan and John Adams all helped with that. Last but not least Alison for co-running the on-water side with me and taking many people out. Special thanks to Peter Bide for all his support with our sailing and to him and others for ensuring the boats were in working order; Carolyne Vines for supporting the planning and promotion plus taking many photos and crewing the patrol boat; and Nicky for opening the bar. A great team effort and a very pleasing result with 48 people sailing at least once with us, 30 more than once, 15 of whom have also taken part in club racing.

As to where next, the answer is the pub! Over lunch we agreed to have a pub evening in Kingston early in the New Year to talk about winter sailing and the plans to get the summer season going."

Photo Niki Vondrakova